Recoil pad



Patented Nov. 3, 1942 UNITE D QFFICE 3 Claims.

The present invention relates to devices adapted to be secured to the butt end of a gun stock, and particularly recoil pads incorporating resilient or compressible material to absorb some of the recoil from the gun as the same is fired from the shoulder.

Among the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel device adapted to be secured to the butt end of a gun stock in a plurality of positions, including positions wherein the longitudinal and transverse axes of the said device are disposed angularly with respect to the vertical and transverse axes of the stock.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel fitting for the butt end of a stock which can be readily and easily mounted in a plurality of positions to adjust the stock to the shooters shoulder to prevent canting and other objectionable habits of the said shooter. The device as contemplated by this invention further includes in its adjustable characteristics novel means whereby the drop at the heel and toe of the stock can be adjusted simultaneously with adjustments which correct faults of the shooter which are attempted to be overcome. Incidental to the drop of the heel the adjustments contemplated by the present invention also vary the pitch of the gun to suit individual requirements.

The present invention also includes as an object some provision for manipulation of the securing means when the device is in any of its adjusted positions with respect to the butt end of the stock, such means further providing for increased resiliency of the said device when the same includes a recoil resisting pad of resilient material, and which means may take the form of openings or recesses in said resilient material disposed adjacent the securing means for the said device.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel recoil pad for the butt end of a gun stock which conforms to the general outline of the said stock and is provided with a shoulder engaging surface of concave formation longitudinally of the same and convex in formation from side to side whereby the butt end of the stock snugly fits the shooters shoulder to prevent slippage or unauthorized movement during aim.

The present invention also embodies within its scope the idea of forming the shoulder engaging surface of the recoil pad as described, in com bination with the adjustable features hereinbefore enumerated.

Another object within the purview of the present invention is to provide a novel butt pad preferably of resilient construction provided with a butt engaging surface angularly disposed in respect to a normal plane through the transverse and longitudinal axes of the device which, either alone or in combination with the form fitting characteristics of the shoulder engaging surface thereof, or either alone or in combination with the adjustable characteristics contemplated in accordance with the present invention, is particularly adapted to offset or offcast the stock in respect of its normal shoulder engaging position to correct certain faults of shooters, the said oifcast or offsetting relation of the stock in respect of its normal position being effective to provide a suitable positioning of the comb required by the said shooter.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel recoil pad incorporating resilient or compressible material formed with means at the heel and toe thereof which varies or adjusts the resiliency of the material at those points. More particularly, the invention comprehends one or more longitudinally disposed openings at the heel and toe of the device, any number of which may be plugged by any suitable material to vary the resiliency transversely of the device at those positions. If desired, these openings may extend longitudinally from heel to toe of the device and may be used either alone or in combination with openings extending transversely of the device whereby the degree of resiliency of the material being used over the entire surface of the device can be very effectively controlled. The invention is also predicated upon the theory that such means for varying the resiliency or compressibility of the material may be used in combination with the other features of the device hereinbefore set forth.

Other objects, features, capabilities and advantages are comprehended by the present invention, as will later appear and as are inherently possessed thereby.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front view in elevation of a device made in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in cross section taken in the plane represented by line 22 of Figure 1 of the drawing;

Figure 3 is a view in cross section taken in the plane represented by line 3-3 of Figure 1 of the drawing;

Figure 4 is a rear View in elevation of the device shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive;

Figure 5 is an end view of a device according to the present invention incorporating a pad varying in thickness from side to side for ofisetting the gun stock from its normal position;

Fi ure 6 is a view in end elevation with parts broken away to disclose an alternative construction for a device made in accordance with the present invention; and

Figure 7 is a view in cross section taken in the plane represented by line l -l of Figure 6 of the drawing.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, a device made in accordance with the present invention and adapted to be connected to th butt end of a gun stock is disclosed in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive as being of multi-part construction including a pad 2 which may be of resilient material such as rubber or the like, connected to a plate member 4 of substantially non-resilient material, such as Bakelite, aluminum, steel and the like, and both of which are cut to conform substantially to the general cross sectional outline of a gun stock at the butt end thereof. This device is in the form of a recoil pad wherein the pad 2 is adapted to absorb a certain part of the recoil from th gun when fired and to cushion the shooters shoulder at that time. In order to facilitate the positioning of the pad with the shoulder and to prevent unauthorized movement when in place, the said pad is formed in the direction of the major axis AA from th heel 6 to the toe 8 of general concave formation, as shown in Figure 2 of the drawing, and of convex formation from side to side in the direction of the minor axis BB, as clearly shown in Figure 3 ofthe drawing. The concave formation from heel to toe facilitates the placement of the gun stock On the shoulder of the shooter, whereas the convex formation from side to side permits ready pivotal movement of th gun about the shoulder for rapid movement of the said gun without necessitating change of position upon the shoulder.

The gun pad as disclosed comprises novel means generally referred to as H) for adjusting the position of the pad with respect to the gun stock. Such means as illustrated comprises spaced apertures I2 and I4 formed in the securing part 4 and formed with radially extending and angularly spaced slots I6 about its periphcry. The pad is secured in place by way of the screws 18 or other similar mechanisms having a shank the diameter of which is slightly less than the width of the slots I6, and the said screws being provided with a washer 20 adjacent the heads thereof, which Washers overlap the marginal edges of the opening sufficient to retain the pad in secured position at the butt irrespective of the adjustment which may take place.

It'will be readily apparent that by way of the securing means, including the slotted apertures formed in the base or plate 4 that said pad can be moved into a plurality of positions, certain of which conform to movement in line with the vertical axis of the stock, and certain others of which conform to movement substantially in alignment with the transverse axis of the stock,

while other permitted movements are in directions angularly disposed in respect to said firstnamed movements. This adjustment takes place by the relative movement of the pad with respect to the screws 58 whereby said screws enter complementary slots of the two apertures disposed in spaced relation on the plate 4.

When any desired position is attained, the screw I8 can be tightened whereby th washers 20 are clamped in gripping relation to the plate 4 by means of a tool, such as a screw driver or the like, the head of which may be inserted through the openings 22 which merge with recesses or openings 24 adjacent each of the apertures l2 and I4. These recesses or openings 24 may take any shape desired and extend beyond the marginal edges of the recesses to permit the movement of the screws with their associated washers 20. These openings or recesses 24 not only provide for the manipulation of th pad into adjusted relation with the butt end of a gun stock and the tool necessary to tighten or unloosen the screws when desired, but likewis provides for adjustment of the resiliency of the pad material, and accordingly may be of any shape or size in conformity to the general construction and may b either deep or shallow depending upon the desired resiliency at those points. This feature of construction is supplemented by other constructions a hereinafter to be more fully disclosed, whereby the degree of resiliency over the area of the pad may be varied as desired.

Further illustrative of the novel features contemplated by the present invention, reference is hereby made to Figure 5 dis-closing a pad which may incorporate features of construction shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive and which is of multipart construction, comprising part 26 preferably of resilient material and part 28 which is of substantially non-resilient material and used in the assembli for securing the said pad to the butt end of a gun stock. The novel feature of construction herein disclosed comprises a formation for the plate or part 28 whereby the thickness thereof uniformly varies from side to side in the direction of the minor axis B--B so that when the device is connected to the butt end of a gun stock, the said gun stock is offset with respect to the normal position which it would otherwise assume were it not for the construction of the plate 28. For a right-handed shooter, the thicker part of the pad would be disposed at the side, as shown in Figure 5, for normally offsetting the stock outwardly, and for a left-handed shooter the pad would vary in thickness in the opposite direction than that shown in Figure 5 to offset the stock outwardly for normal conditions. It is quite conceivable, however, that certain shooters may require an offset of the stock inwardly in respect of its normal position, and accordingly the pad as shown in Figure 5 would be used by a left-handed shooter and the reverse construction used by a right-handed shooter. It is also contemplated that the characterizing feature of the device shown in Figure 5 of the drawing may be used in conjunction with the novel features of the embodiment shown in Figures 6 and '7 now to be described.

Figures 6 and 7 disclose a recoil pad conforming substantially to that shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive of the drawing, comprising a part 30 formed of resilient material and a part 32 which is of substantially non-resilient material and which is provided for securing the pad assembly to the butt end of a gun stock. This embodiment shows aligned openings 34 and 38 through the parts 30 and 32 to receive screws which may be driven into th stock whereby the said pad is secured thereto although, as previously indicated, this embodiment may also. embrace within its construction the novel adjustable securing means of the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4 inclusive whereby adjustment of the pad with respect to the stock may be secured in a plurality of directions.

Although the embodiment of Figures 6 and 7 may embrace the construction of Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, the illustration embodies certain features which also may be used alone, the same comprising a plurality of longitudinal openings, such as 38, which extend entirely through the resilient pad 30 from heel to toe to increase the resiliency of the said pad adjacent said heel and toe, and which openings may, as shown, be used in combination with a plurality of transverse openings 40 which function in a similar capacity. One or all of the openings 38 may be plugged at either one or both ends and to any distances desired inwardly from heel and toe as by means of plugs 42 which may be of resilient material, to vary the resistance to recoil at anyplace within the confines of the pad, and particularly at the heel and toe to accommodate the individual shooters requirements. Furthermore, the said openings 38 may merely extend for a given distance from the heel and toe, and if desired'm'ay be in the form of cavities located adjacent the heel and toe, the adjustment for recoil for which is one of the primary objects providing the said recessed or opening construction at those points.

From the above, it will be clearly apparent that there are a number of novel features of construction which, in various combinations, provide means for satisfying all shooters from the standpoint of pitch, lateral 'ofi'set, correction of gun tilting, and variations in resistance to recoil over all parts of the pad so that any gun, when fitted with a pad in accordance with the present invention, can be adapted for use by a large number of shooters, and any individual faults of shooters can be readily provided for and corrected by the construction and adjustability of the herein disclosed recoil pad.

While I have herein described and upon the drawing shown illustrative embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may comprehend other constructions, arrangements of parts, details and features without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A recoil pad for a gun stock comprising a member having a part of resilient material and a part of substantially non-resilient material for securing said pad to said stock, said secondnamed part having spaced apertures, the periphery of each being provided with at least three radially disposed angularly spaced slots for adjustment of said pad with respect to said stock.

2. A recoil pad for a gun stock comprising a member having a part of resilient material and a part of substantially non-resilient material for securing said pad to said stock, said second-named part having spaced apertures, the periphery of each being provided with at least three radially disposed angularly spaced slots adapted to cooperate with attachment means secured to said stock for adjustably positioning said pad with respect to said stock, and said first-named part being recessed adjacent said apertures and being provided with passages extending from the face of said pad to said recesses to accommodate a tool for manipulation of .the attachment means and to increase resiliency of said first-named part.

3. A recoil pad for a gun stock, comprising a member having a part of resilient material and a part of substantially non-resilient material for securing said pad to said stock, said secondnamed part having spaced apertures the periphery of each being provided with a plurality of pairs of opposed radially disposed angularly spaced slots for adjustment of said pad with respect to said stock.

ALBERT H. AMMANN. 

